It happened in the Mearns March 6

Published:08:00Saturday 07 March 2015

Share this article

This week we bring you what happened in the Mearns from our own archives.

25 YEARS AGO - March 9 1990

High winds played havoc throughout the Mearns last week and Stonehaven’s Market Buildings clock weather vane - only recently given a fresh coat of paint - took a fair battering, resulting in the arrow-shaped vane apparently about to plunge earthwards at any moment. First to report the potential danger was Mr J. Lochrie, 57 Ann Street, an engineer with Grampian TV, who studied the weather vane through binoculars and saw that it was bent at right angles.

Police eventually blocked off a section of Allardice Street off a section of Allardice Street as a unit from Grampian Fire Brigade tried to reach the damaged vane by sending local slater, Mr Bill Smith, up in their hydraulic lift platform, but the lift - which extended to 90ft - was unable to reach the 120ft-high spire. By Saturday, steeplejacks had succeeded in removing the weather vane.

50 YEARS AGO - March 5 1965

The erection of two large masts in place of one small one indicate that Stonehaven radio station may be in on the birth of a great new industry that will revolutionise Britain’s economy. Stonehaven has been chosen as one of the three places which will be telephonically linked with drillers engaged in the search for oil or gas about 50 to 100 miles offshore. A new 112ft mast is being erected, and another, 187ft high, is replacing an existing mast. The service includes wireless telephone or telegraph facilities linked to a multi-channel radio teleprinter, and the ability to join in ship to shore service operated by the chosen stations. Even if there are no results from the drilling operations, it should mean a considerable improvement in the facilities of Stonehaven radio station.

100 YEARS AGO - March 11 1915

The usual monthly meeting of the Stonehaven Town Council - though the agenda list was more scanty than usual - provided some interesting subjects for discussion. Chief among them, of course, was Bailie Duncan’s motion that the Council procure a rotary brush, which produced one of the most animated discussions the civic fathers have had for some time, no fewer than nine of the eleven members present voicing their opinions in the matter.

Besides this, the Burgh Surveyor gave a telling statement ‘in favour’ but the motion was defeated by seven votes to four. The most common argument as was to be expected was “economy”. By the bye we wonder how much the Town Council are saving weekly through the curtailment of street lighting. We think it might be a tidy little sum.